Scaffold for structural workers



June 2, 1936. C, D, SUTTON 2,043,128

SCAFFOLD FOR STRUCTURAL WORKERS Filed June 4, 1954y 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Cyril D. uon

ATTORN EY June 2, 936. C. D. SUTTON SCAFFOLD FOR. STRUCTURAL WORKERS Filed June 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Shee 2 ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE N SCAFFOLD FOR kSTRUCTURAL WORKERS Application June 4, 1934, Serial No. '728,815

Claims. (Cl. 304-13) This invention relates to a novel form of scaffold which, although suitable for other purposes, is characterized by features which render it of particular utility in connection with the erection of 5 structural steel framework.

One object of the invention is to provide for facility insecuring the scaffold to and in removing it from the framework.

A further object is to provide a scaffold which while relatively light in weight is of a strong and rigid construction.

A still further object is a scaffold which is vertically adjustable, within limits, with respect to the plane in which the work is to be performed, whereby to enable its securement .in a position most satisfactory to the requirements of the particular workmen.

.A Vstill further object is a scaffold which will provide adequate platform space at all sides of the vertical member with which .it is associated.

VA still further object is a scaffold which is so designed that it may be employed Yin connection with structural steel members of various sizes.

A still further object is a'scaffold whichzis available for use in connection with various arrangements of structural members.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of a scaffold embodying features of the invention, the scaffold being lillustrated in connection with structural members which are to be permanently riveted together.

Figure2 is an enlarged section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of the scaffoldframe.

`Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Figure 1.`

Figure 'I is an enlarged fragmentary view ofthe scaffold.

.Figure 8 is a top plan'view ofthe scaffold illustrated in connection with a modified. arrangement of structural members. I

` Figure 9 is .a similar view of the scaffold illustrated in connection witha further modified arrangement of the structural members.

The'scaffold, which is indicated generally at I0, is illustrated in Figure 1 lin connection with aver- -tical or .upright 'structural'member II ,and asso- 55 -ciated horizontal structurahmembers'; l2. 'The latter are temporarily secured to the former in accordance with conventional practice, the scaffold in this case providing a platform for the workmen who are to 'permanently secure the said members together as by riveting or weldingA and also providing a support for the tools of the Workmen. The scaffold is formed with an opening I3 to accommodate the vertical member I I.. The said opening is preferably located centrally of the scaffold in order to provide platform space at all rsides of the member II, whereby when the scaffold is secured in the desired position theabutting portions of all of the structural members are readillr accessible without the necessity of its further adjustment.

The scaffold, as illustrated, includes a frame member I4 which is formed in the shape of an open circle, the ends I5 .of the said member being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between the outer faces of the chords of the structural member II. Preferably the frame member I4 includes a ring-like body I6 and an integral laterally extending flange Il, the ends I5 of the said member being connected by an angle section I4a. Thezsaid angle section is similar in cross-section tothe frame member I4 and it is removably secured to the ends of the latter by suitable nut and bolt fastenings I4b and I4c. At one end its flange is cut away as at I4d (Figure 7) so'that by removing the nut and bolt fastening I 4b and by loosening the companion fastening I4c vthe angle member may be moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1.

A lpair of bars I8 which delimft two sides of the opening I3 are suitably secured in the frame membei` I4. The said bars rest upon the flange I1 and extend in parallel relation from the ends I5 of the frame member to the opposite side thereof, the distance between the bars being slightly greater than the distance between the outer faces of the'chords of the structural member I I.

The bars, as illustrated, are approximately of the lsame 'height as that of the body I6 of the frame member. They are notchedat their opposite Vends as at I9 (Figure 6), whereby their top edges lie in a plane below the top edge of the body of the frame member and their bottom edges lie in a plane below the flange `I'l ofthe body of the frame member.

A deck 20 is supported in the framework provided by the frame 4member I4 and the bars I8. The said deck comprises three sections 2I, 22 and 23. The'sections 2| and 22.a.re-similar in shape and are located between the bars I8 and those portions of the frame member I4 opposite the-v said bars. Preferably they are formed of metal sheets which are folded at regular intervals to provide reinforcing ribs 24, the said ribs extending lengthwise of the sections and resting at their opposite ends upon the flange I1. The deck section 23 is located between the bars I8 and its length is predetermined so that its inner end delimits the third side of the opening I3. The deck section 23 is similar to the sections 2I and 22 with the exception that the reinforcing ribs are arranged crosswise with respect to the bars I8. The ribs of the sections 2|, 22 and 23 may be secured to the frame member I4 and the bars I8 by welding or in any other suitable manner.

The deck 20 also includes large and small sections 25 and 26, respectively, which are located between the bars I8, the sections 26 delimiting the fourth side of the opening I3. The section 25 is pivotally connected along one side toone of the bars I8 by suitable hinges 21 while the section 26 is similarly connected to the said bar by a hinge 28, the said hinges permitting the sections 25 and 26 to be opened and swung back upon the section 2I as shown in Figure 5. At their opposite sides the sections 25 and 26 are reinforced by bars 29 and 30 respectively. Each of the said bars includes a lateral extension 3l which rests upon one of the bars 8 when the section is closed (Figures 4 and 5). Preferably the said bar is cut away as at 32 to provide a shallow elongated recess in which the lateral extensions 3| of the bars 29 and 30 t. Hence when the sections 25 and 26 are in their closed position their top surfaces will be in substantially the same plane as the top surfaces of the remaining deck sections.

The sheets forming the various deck sections are preferably perforated as indicated at 22a, whereby to decrease their weight while at the same time rendering the scaffold less susceptible to the influence of wind or other air currents.

A series of eye-bolts 33 are carried by the frame member I4, the said eye-bolts co-operating with suitable cables 34 to support the scaffold at the desired distance below the horizontal structural members I2.I The eye-bolts pass through the Various deck sections and are connected to the flange I1 of the frame member I4. They may, as illustrated in Figure 2, be formed with flanges 35 which engage the tops of the sections and secure them to the frame member I4 as the eye-bolts are tightened. As shown, the eye-bolts 33 are located at regular intervals around the .,frame member I4 in order that various cable arrangements may be accommodated as may be required by various arrangements of structural members. Preferably one of the eye-bolts is carried by the angle section I4a, it being noted that the deck section 25 is cut away as at 25a (Figure 7) so as to provide clearance between it and the said eyebolt when it is swung back upon the deck section 2I as described.

When the scaffold is to be arranged in position, for example, in the position shown in Figure 1, the nut and bolt fastening I4b is removed and the fastening I4c is loosened thereby permitting the frame section I4a to be swung to the dotted line position shown in this figure. At the same time the deck sections 25 and 26 are swung back upon the companion section 2l. When the scaffold is arrangedso that the entrance to the passageway provided by the frame section I4a and deck sections 25 and 26 lies opposite the structural member I I, it is moved laterally, the structural member II' passing through the said passageway and entering the opening I3. Thereafter the deck sections are closed and the frame section I4a moved to the full line position shown in Figure 1. The nut and bolt fastening |4b is replaced and tightened together with the fastening I4c. The cables 34 are then arranged over the horizontal Vstructural members I2 and when the scaffold is adjusted to the desired position the ends of the cables are tied to secure the scaffold in such position. Preferably a guard rope 36 is carried by the cables 34, the said guard rope being suitably secured to the cables as by clips 31.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the scaffold completely surrounds the vertical structural member I I and provides adequate platform space at all sides of it, whereby a Workman is enabled to rivet, for example, all of the horizontal members I2 to the member II without the necessity of moving or readusting the scaffold. Moreover the deck section 26 is available. to increase the length of the opening I3 in the event that a structural member of greater width than that shown in Figure l is employed, the section in such case being permitted to remain open after the scaffold is arranged in the desired position.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 the scaffold Illa is employed in connection with an arrangement of structural members which includes a vertical member 38 and horizontal members 39 and 4U, the vertical member in this case providing a corner of the framework. The scaffold is suspended in the desired position by vertical cables 4I and 42 which are connected directly to the horizontal structural members 39 and 40 and by angularly extending cables 43 and 44 which are connected to the vertical structural member 38 just above the said horizontal members.

In Figure 9 the scaffold I 0b is illustrated in connection with an arrangement of structural members which includes a vertical member 45 and horizontal members 46, 41 and 48, the vertical member in this case being located intermediate the corner members of the framework. The scaffold is suspended from the horizontal structural members by a vertical rope 49 which is connected to the member 46, two substantially vertical ropes 50 and 5I which are connected to the members 41 and 48, respectively, and two angularly extending ropes 52 and 53 which are also secured to the members 41 and 48.

I claim as my invention:

1. A scaffold of the character described including a platform having a permanent deck .i

formed with a substantially centrally located opening which is adapted to accommodate a vertical structural member when the scaffold is arranged in position and being formed with a passage which leads from the margin of said platform to said opening, whereby said platform may be moved laterally to position said member in said opening, a floor section carried by said platform which is movable to cover the greater part of said passage when said member occupies said opening, an auxiliary floor section which is movable to cover the remainder of said passage, said auxiliary section being available to increase the size of said opening when necessitated by the use of the platform in vconnection with a larger structural member and means for supporting said platform at a determined height with respect to said first mentioned member.

2. A scaffold of the character described including a platform having a substantially centrally located opening which is adapted to accommodate a vertical structural member when the scaffold is -arranged in position, said platform having a frame member formed in the shape of an open circle and being formed with a passage which leads from the opening between the ends of said frame member to said centrally located opening and through which said structural member passes as said platform is moved laterally to position said member in said opening, a removable frame section carried by the ends of said frame member, said platform including a iloor section which is movable to cover at least a part of said passage and means for supporting Said platform at a determined height with respect to said structural member.

3. A scaffold of the character described including a platform, said platform having a frame member formed in the shape of an open circle, parallel cross bars extending from the ends of said frame member to the opposite side thereof, a floor carried by said frame member and bars, an opening formed in said floor for accommodating a vertical structural member when the scaiold is arranged in position, said opening being located between said bars substantially centrally of said platform, said bars defining a passage which leads from the spaced ends of said frame member to said opening, a floor section pivotally connected to one of said bars and being movable to cover at least a part of said passage and means for supporting said platform at a determined height with respect to said structural member.

4. A scaffold of the character described including a platform, said platform having a frame member formed in the shape of an open circle, parallel cross bars extending from the ends of said frame member to the opposite side thereof, a floor carried by said frame member and bars, an opening formed in said floor for accommodating a vertical structural member when the scaffold is arranged in position, said opening being located between said barsl substantially centrally of said platform, said bars defining a passage which leads from the spaced ends of said frame member to said opening, a floor section pivotally connected to one of said bars and being movable -to cover at least a part of said passage, an adjustable frame section connected to the ends of said frame member and means for supporting said platform at a determined height with respect to said structural member.

5. A scaffold of the character described including a platform having a permanent deck, a pair of substantially parallel bars which extend across said platform and which provide central supports for said deck, a centrally located opening formed in said deck between said bars, said opening being adapted to accommodate va vertical member when the scaiold is arranged in position, said bars dening a passage which leads from the margin of said platform to said opening, whereby said platform may be moved laterally to position CYRIL D. SUTTON. f 

